Tubular plastic end stops bonded to plastic zipper

Abstract

Plastic-film zipper bags having tubular plastic end stops bonded to the plastic zipper to seal the ends of the zipper and to provide stops to retain a slider on the zipper are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of installing the tubular plastic end stops on the zipper.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In the manufacture of plastic-film bags having a reclosable fastener extending along the mouth of the bag and a slider straddling the fastener for opening and closing the fastener, the fastener comprising a pair of flexible plastic strips on facing sidewalls of the bag and having reclosable interlocking rib and groove profile elements on the respective strips, the improvement in end stops for the slider and in terminating the reclosable fastener comprising: end stop means located at the opposite ends of the profile elements on the reclosable fastener, each of the end stop means comprising a length of slit plastic tubing extending over one end of the reclosable fastener and locked into position on the ends of the profile elements by bonding the tubing in sealed relation with the ends of the profile elements, each end stop including deformations impressed through the wall of the tubing and into the profile elements during bonding, said tubing projecting outwardly from said profile elements and being engageable with the slider for preventing the slider from moving past the ends of the reclosable fastener.   
     
     
       2. The improvement in end stops according to claim 1 wherein said deformations have been produced by thermal means. 
     
     
       3. The improvement in end stops according to claim 1 wherein the deformations have been produced by ultrasonic means.